NYG - Philadelphia, Dallas - Minnesota
NYG - Philadelphia, Dallas - Minnesota
NYG - Philadelphia
From sportinglife.com:
"The Eagles have won five of the last six meetings, including a sweep last season. Brian Westbrook returned a punt 84 yards for a touchdown with 1:16 left in the fourth quarter of the Eagles' 14-10 win at New York in the first meeting and scored three touchdowns in the second meeting."
From the HeraldNews.com:
"The Giants hold a 73-63-2 edge in a regular season series that dates back to the 1933 season. The Eagles have narrowed the gap by winning five of the last six head-to-head meetings, including a pair of contests last season. New York's most recent win in Philadelphia came during the 2000 regular season.
Eagles head coach Andy Reid is 5-6 against New York all-time, while the Giants' Tom Coughlin is 2-0. Both of Coughlin's wins date back to his tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars."
From the Delaware County Times:
"While the Eagles appear strong at safety with Dawkins and third-year man Michael Lewis, their nightmare could be at linebacker, a banged-up position lacking the classic strong side ‘backer. The Eagles quietly are wondering if Dhani Jones, the former New York Giant, can replace Carlos Emmons, the current New York Giant, taking on the tight end. Jones will look like a safety lining up against tight end Jeremy Shockey (6-5, 252), although the Pro Bowl Giant might be reduced to part-time status due to an ailing foot.
“We don’t know what Shockey we’re going to see,” Johnson said. “I know he’s planning on playing. I don’t know if we’re just going to see Shockey on third-down situations or on first and second situations.”
Hampered by a high ankle sprain, Jones hasn’t been on the field long enough in the off season to do much of anything."
Dallas-Minnesota
From the Dallas Morning News :
"Julius Jones practiced for the third straight day, but Bill Parcells is not ready to commit to the rookie running back for Sunday. Jones, who is listed on the injury report as probable, has a bruised rib.
“That's probably a game-day thing, what I'm going to do,” Parcells said. 'He's doing all right. I can't really list him because he doesn't have anything specific except a bruise, and he is practicing, so it's just a question of whether we think this guy gives us the best chance to win on Sunday.'"
From kltv.com:
"Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice says cornerback Brian Williams is looking better but probably won't start on Sunday against Dallas.
The third-year player is coming back from a knee sprain suffered in Minnesota's first preseason game."
Atlanta-San Francisco
From canada.com:
"Vick took only 29 snaps in the pre-season, worrying more about his health than getting up to speed in game conditions. In those rare times he was on the field, Vick looked out of sync with the new offence. He completed just 5 of 12 passes for 35 yards, throwing an interception and losing a fumble. His rating was a dismal 14.6."
From the Herald-News.com:
"San Francisco holds a 44-25-1 edge in the regular season series, including wins in the three most recent matchups. The Niners won two overtime contests against Atlanta during the 2001 season, when both teams resided in the NFC West. The Falcons' last win in the series came in the 2000 campaign, and their most recent victory in San Francisco took place in 1991. Atlanta has lost each of its last 10 road games against the 49ers.
San Francisco head coach Dennis Erickson is 0-1 against Atlanta in his career, with the loss dating back to his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks.
Atlanta linebacker Keith Brooking is questionable for this week with a hamstring injury."
Tampa-Washington
From sportinglife.com:
"Washington lead the series 6-5, but Tampa Bay have won five of the last seven meetings."
From the Herald-News:
"The Redskins lead the all-time regular season series with Tampa Bay, 6-5, though the Bucs have won five of the last seven. Last season, Tampa Bay visited FedEx Field and emerged with a 35-13 victory, as quarterback Brad Johnson threw four touchdown passes against his former team. Washington's most recent victory in the series came in 2000, when the club came away with a 20-17 overtime victory.
Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden is 2-0 against the Redskins all-time, while Washington head man Joe Gibbs has won all three of his meetings with Tampa Bay."
From the Hampton Roads Daily Press:
"Funny thing how the injury list shortens considerably when the games start counting. The Redskins have only three players on the official list, according to trainer Bubba Tyer. Linebacker Mike Barrow is questionable with knee tendonitis and H-back Brian Kozlowski (calf strain) and safety Andre Lott (knee strain) are probable. Kozlowski and Lott practiced on Wednesday.
The Redskins will have left tackle Chris Samuels and right guard Randy Thomas in the starting lineup on Sunday. Samuels (ankle) and Thomas (neck) missed the Atlanta game last week."
Seattle-New Orleans
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer :
"SERIES: 4-4, with the Seahawks winning the past two after the Saints won three in a row.
INJURY UPDATE: The biggest concern is Darren Howard. The veteran defensive end, and Saints franchise player, has a bulging disc in his lower neck. The coaches are hoping Howard will be able to play, and line up opposite Walter Jones, the Seahawks' just-arrived Pro Bowl left tackle. If Howard can't go, first-round draft choice Will Smith will start.
Nickel back Jason Craft has a high ankle sprain and is questionable. Fakhir Brown will step in if Craft can't play."
From the Herald-News.com:
"The Saints and Seahawks have split eight games all-time, with Seattle winning the two most recent meetings, both at home.
Seattle is 1-2 at the Superdome all-time, with their only win in the series coming in the 1985 campaign. Seattle coach Mike Holmgren is a perfect 4-0 against New Orleans in his career, including 2-0 since taking over the Seahawks. The Saints' Jim Haslett is 0-2 versus Seattle all-time.
Seattle was 2-6 away from Seattle a year ago."
From PatriotsInsider.com:
"The Saints own just an 11-26 lifetime (.297) on opening day dating back to 1967; The Seahawks own an 8-20 record (.286) on opening day dating back to 1976; Seattle’s last season-opening road victory came in a 9-6 field-goal contest in 2001 over the Cleveland Browns."
San Diego-Houston
From sportinglife.com :
"The Houston Texans, 2-0 on opening day, will be looking for another successful opener on Sunday when they meet the San Diego Chargers at Reliant Stadium."
From the San Diego Union-Trbune :
"The Chargers, 4-12 last season, did not win a game in which they trailed at the end of the first quarter. They were down after the opening 15 minutes in 11 games, all defeats. Their other loss came in a game that was tied after the first quarter.
Actually, the problem wasn't limited to last season. Its roots can be traced to the middle of the 2002 season, when the Chargers lost seven times over the final nine games after trailing at end of the first quarter.
Godspicks.com is 9-1 the last 10 in the NFL going back to the preseason and has a Wise Guy play on this game. When talking years and decades, no handicapper has ever dominated any sport the way Godspicks has the NFL.
Wideout Tim Dwight (hamstring) did not practice and is listed as questionable for the game. Also listed as questionable are linebackers Shaun Phillips, Carlos Polk and Matt Wilhelm with shoulder injuries, and offensive tackle Courtney Van Buren (knee)."
From News-Herald.com :
"The Chargers won the only all-time meeting between the two teams, winning a 24-3 home contest during Houston's inaugural season of 2002.
San Diego coach Marty Schottenheimer is 1-0 against Houston all-time, while Houston's Dom Capers is 1-1 against the Chargers, including a win during his days with the Carolina Panthers."
Jacksonville-Buffalo
From wtev.com:
"The Bills lead the all-time regular season series, 3-1, and have won the last three head-to-head matchups dating back to 1998. Buffalo went on the road for a 38-17 win over the Jaguars last season, with three rushing touchdowns from Travis Henry providing the difference. Jacksonville's only regular season win over the Bills came in the 1997 season.
The Jaguars were 30-27 victors in the only postseason tilt between the teams, in a 1996 AFC First-Round Playoff. Both Jacksonville victories over Buffalo have come on the road.
Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio is 0-1 against Buffalo in his head coaching career.
The Jaguars were 0-8 on the road last season."
From the Ocala Star-Banner :
"The Jackonville Jaguars won three of their final five games last year."
Cincinnati-NY Jets
From canada.com:
"It is not such a stretch to anticipate the Bengals having trouble soon. Since 1991, the Bengals have gone 10-39 in August and September."
From sportinglife.com:
"The Jets have been perennial slow starters under coach Herman Edwards, who is entering his fourth season. They have lost seven straight games in September and are 2-8 under Edwards in the first month."
From News-Herald.com:
"The Jets lead the all-time series with the Bengals, 11-6, and have claimed four consecutive wins dating back to 1992.
The Bengals' most recent victory in the series was in the 1990 season, a 25-20 home triumph, and the franchise's last road victory over the Jets was in 1981. Cincinnati is 2-8 against the Jets on the road all-time."
Baltimore-Cleveland
From canada.com:
"Cleveland Browns running back Lee Suggs did not practice Friday, leaving him doubtful for Sunday's opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
Suggs, bothered by a neck stinger for more than a week, didn't even bring a helmet with him onto the practice field for Friday's workout. Coach Butch Davis said Suggs had improved and isn't ruling him out from the opener.
Cleveland is 0-5 in home openers since coming back in 1999, and the Browns are just 11-29 in their lakefront stadium over the past five years."
Arizona-St. Louis
From sportinglife.com:
"St Louis are happy to be opening at the Edward Jones Dome, where they have won a franchise-record 14 straight regular-season games since a loss to Dallas on September 29, 2002.
The Rams were dominant at home last season, winning by an average of 17.1 points, but they eventually lost at home to Carolina in the divisional round of the play-offs.
The Rams won both meetings last season, including a 37-13 rout in St Louis. "
From News-Herald.com:
"The Cardinals most recent victory in the series, a 20-17 nail-biter in 1998, is their only win in the city where the franchise resided from 1960 to 1987.
Arizona coach Dennis Green was 2-2 against St. Louis as coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and Rams head man Mike Martz is 4-0 against the Cardinals."
